Explorers

Our Class
We are taught in a small group by Mrs Darbyshire and Miss Routledge and supported by Miss Law. We follow a semi formal curriculum to help us learn and access the curriculum in a way which helps us to achieve our true potential.
Each morning we follow the same routine
  • Registration and maths games
  • Phonics
  • Maths
  • Break time
  • Literacy
  • Thrive time
During all of our learning experiences we are working on key goals : to take turns, to work with peers, to follow instructions and to interact with staff members. 

In an afternoon we focus on learning life skills through a practical, multi sensory approach. We benefit from cookery lessons, biking, road safety sessions , horse riding, swimming as well as spending time developing team work and communication skills. 
 
Please see the visual timetable below.
Information for Parents
  • Every Monday is our Cookery session where we have Laura our volunteer to come cooking with us. 
  • Reading books are changed every Friday so please ensure children have their books with them.
  • Every Tuesday is our PE days with Sophie where we will be learning dance, gymnastics and multi-skills. 
  • Every Wednesday we are swimming and is charged at £2 - please make sure they have their swimming kits with them.
  • Every Friday we will be doing Horse Riding until the Summer Term 2026, which is charged at £7 each week. 
Please login to your child's Seesaw account for all of our information and frequent posts of our learning.
Maths
In maths we follow a semi formal curriculum geared towards 'stage not age'. We follow the principles of maths mastery and take small steps to ensure we really understand the concept. In our class we use lots of hands on learning involving concrete and pictorial methods to help us understand. 
Literacy
In Literacy we have been reading the book 'The Great Explorer'.
 
We started off making a prediction on what the children think the book could be about and what they think the name of the book is. We then sequenced the story in our books. 
 
The children then thought about what Tom had packed in his bag when he went to rescue his Dad and then planned what they would pack in their bag. 
 
Finally, the children have been working on writing a setting description, firstly they planned it using what they already know from Tom's adventure, then they have wrote an alternative adventure through the Amazon Rainforest. 
 
On a Tuesday we have a smaller Literacy lesson due to our PE lesson and during this time we focus on our speaking and listening skills.
Cooking 
Every Monday we have cooking sessions with Laura. In these sessions we focus on key skills:
  • following instructions
  • life skills
  • cutting
  • chopping
  • peeling
  • grating
  • baking
  • learning the history of the ingredients
  • learning about our 5 senses and 5 taste senses
Over the last 7 weeks we have learnt about the 5 taste senses, made sweet and savoury skewers, pinwheels, wrap pizzas, mince pies and rice crispies cakes, puff pastry Christmas trees and some Christmas treat bags!
Horse Riding
Each Friday during the school year we will be attending horse riding lessons. These sessions not only develop physical skills and core muscle strength but also offer skills in communication, sensory integration and coordination.
The therapeutic benefits of horses and horse riding for neurodivergent individuals are undeniable. From emotional connection and sensory integration to physical development and social skills, horses offer a unique and powerful form of therapy. The bond formed between a horse and rider can provide a safe and nurturing environment for personal growth and development. Whether it’s in a therapeutic riding program or simply spending time with horses, the benefits of equine-assisted therapy are truly remarkable.
 
Pony care group - as we are working towards an award in this we have been learning about the equipment used when riding a horse and went into the tack room to learn about the parts of the saddle girth and stirrups. We also used a rein to practise our steering and control with each other so we could imagine what it is like for a horse to rely on commands from us as riders.
 
We have been learnt how to mount using the mounting block so that we had to do more of this on our. We also learnt how to sit straight and then lean when taking a jump before sitting straight again to control the horse and allow the horse to do a fast walk. We also even had a game of head, shoulders, knees to allow us to take our hand off the reign. Jojo our coach was so proud of us all!
Community Based Projects
Over the past few weeks we have had some exciting visitors arrive at our classroom door!
 
First we had the Fire Brigade - They talked about what they do as a service. We then each had a turn at putting on the uniform that they have got to wear.
See if they can tell you how quick the fire service have to get ready in an emergency. (45 seconds) We then went out to see the fire engine. We saw all the different parts of equipment and the equipment they have to use to save people from cars and building.
All of us managed to squeeze into the back of the fire engine and the driver put on the lights and the sirens and they were very loud!
 
Then we had a visit from a paramedic - Callum came and paid us a visit and told us a bit about what the paramedics do, he then showed us the medic bag he had and all the pieces of equipment he had in there. We enjoyed putting the machine on our finger and watching our heart rate. We then went out to the ambulance and we were very lucky and got to sit in the drivers seat or in the passenger seat and press the sirens and the horns.
Thrive Time
We have a dedicated Thrive time each day. During this time we enjoy child initiated play opportunities to enhance our team work, communication skills, sharing and taking turns, developing our imagination, playing with friends in role play and sensory games and learning to both win and lose. 
 
Community Awareness - Asda
As part of our community awareness, we have visited Asda a few times and have used our communication skills as well as our problem solving skills to collect our ingredients for cooking. The children tried hard at locating where the food was by looking at above the aisle. We have also been really brave and using our communication skills and asking the staff at Asda for help. We have took it turns to scan the food and put it into the bag. We also took our tuck shop money with us and were able to use our problem solving skills to work out what we could buy with our money and if we had enough by looking at the prices.
Panathlon Challenge Boccia North
Explorers took part in the Panathlon Challenge Boccia North competition. This was across 2 venues and there was 52 teams competing on these days. 
 
We learnt a new inclusive sport and are very proud of all our children!